Question
QUESTION: Hi Tom,

I live in San Jose, California and I have a Calla Lilies which bought from supermarket in Feb. 2009. When I bought this Calla Lilies, it was flowering with different kind of colors(3 colors). Currently, after about 1.5 months past, I notice that those leaves from this plant started turning yellow like dying, but it still have green leaves in the pot.  I am not sure of followings:
1.Is it dormant(resting)?
2.Should I water the plant every two weeks? Don't give it too much water anymore. Also, don't let it totally dry out either if it is resting according to your instruction?
3.It is spring time now or summer will be here next soon , will it still have more flowers blooming again? or just dormant even it is spring or summer season?
4.I thought about planting it into ground, Should I?

Your kind advice is appreciated.

Thank,
Sherry

ANSWER: Hi Sherry,
Thanx for your questions.  The calla lilies are going dormant.  Stop watering as often (maybe every other week) and allow the leaves to turn yellow.  Remove the pot to a cool, dark, dry place and keep the soil moist enough to where it is not completely dried out.  After about 3 months, bring the pot back outdoors or to a sunny window and begin watering again.  Feed with bonemeal according to directions on the package.  The plant will begin to emerge soon and start the blooming cycle all over again.  I recommend removing the blossom as soon as it is spent.  Because you live in San Jose, you should be able to safely plant your callas outdoors.  Choose a place where the plants will get full sun and the soil drains well and stays somewhat moist but not soggy.  If the soil has trouble staying moist, mulch with grass clippings or pine needles.  The plant will come in and out of dormancy naturally, outdoors.  I hope this helps.
Tom

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QUESTION: Hi Tom,

Thank you very much for your kind and detailed information about this calla lilies.  Sorry that I got three more questions.
1.Do I really have to wait for another 3 months? Is the purpose of waiting for 3 months to end his resting so that I can then plant it in my garden? Can I plant it maybe after 2 months?
2.What is bonemeal? Can I just feed it with regular plant food such as "Miracle-Gro all purpose plant food"?
3.When the summer come during July through September in San Jose here after I plant this calla lilies in ground, it will still bloom second time this year(first time was in Feb. when I bought it from supermarket)?

I will be appreciated if I still can get an answer for those questions.

Thanks,
Sherry

ANSWER: Hi Sherry,
Thanx for the additional questions.  Yes, you will have to wait about three months because the plant needs to rest like animals need to hibernate and humans need to sleep.  The plant rejuvenates by going dormant for a while and building up its reserve energy for the next growth and bloom.  Bonemeal is ground up bones full of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals that a lot of bulbaceous plants need to grow well.  It is available at the big box DIYs and stores like Kmart, Walmart, etc.  It usually comes in a bag in the garden center.  Follow the directions on the bag.  Actually, you can plant this bulb any time you like in San Jose and the plant should bloom several times, naturally.  I hope this helps.
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Tom,

I have emailed you before in April about my Calla Lily. Please just refer to my previous severial emails to you. Currently, I am thinking about planting it into my ground in garden according to your instruction. But, I have another question today. My Calla Lilies is dry out into dormant but it is not totally dry out as you said which is very good. However, I found out there are a lot of WHITE COLOR POWDER like stuffs stick on the whole pot and soil(no more leaves showed) and I don't know what that is? Is that a bacteria, or does this Calla Lily just get sick because of that white stuff(kind of sticky too).  Can I still plant it into gound after I remove those white stuffs? Please tell me what that is if you happen to know that stuff. I hope that my description is good enough for your to "diagonose" the problem.

Thanks again for your kind help.

Answer
Hi Sherry,
Thanx for the additional information.  The white stuff you talk about could be a fungus.  Locate the rhizome in the potting soil and take it out.  If it soft and smelly, it's been critically damaged by the fungus and you should throw it away. If it is firm and healthy, dust it with a horticultural fungicide and then plant it.  I hope this helps.
Tom